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Largs RNLI join multi-agency search for kayaker

Lifeboats News Release

The volunteer RNLI crew at Largs Lifeboat Station were paged shortly before 5pm yesterday (Tuesday 11 April) after a member of the public dialled 999 stating they had been videoing a lone Kayaker between 50 to 100 meters from the shore in Ardneil Bay near West Kilbride and had lost sight of them.

Largs Atlantic 85 Inshore Lifeboat R A Wilson powering away from station on a call out

RNLI/Brian Rankin

Largs Atlantic 85 Inshore Lifeboat R A Wilson
The volunteer crew that had assembled at the station quickly launched their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat ‘R A Wilson’ and made best speed to the location.

After travelling through strong winds and rough sea conditions, the lifeboat arrived on scene at the Northern end of the bay and were requested to perform a shore search between 50 and 100 meters from the shoreline in a Southerly direction towards Ardrossan.

Due to the on-scene weather conditions, and many rocky outcrops, a safe search was conducted closer to 200 meters from the shore but still close enough to have a good visual of any possible objects on the shoreline.

After completion of the first leg of the search and due to deteriorating weather conditions and visibility Troon All Weather Lifeboat was also tasked to assist in searching the area. At this time the volunteer crew from Largs were dealing with winds gusting to 25 miles per hour and the swell was reaching 2 to 2.5 meters high. Having the All-Weather Lifeboat on scene with its added height would allow a better search of the area.

After a further legs of their search, the Helm of Largs Lifeboat contacted the Coastguard to give an update of where had been searched and the ever decreasing visibility due to frequent squally showers passing through the area, it was at this time the Coastguard rescue helicopter from Prestwick was requested to assist in the search.

With two lifeboats and a rescue helicopter now involved searching, a much larger area of sea could be covered. Also, shoreline searches were being performed by members of Greenock, Ardrossan, and Largs Coastguard rescue teams.

As one of the teams searching the shore were moving to a new position, they passed a house with a kayak matching the description of the one that was being searched for, on talking to the occupants of the house, it soon became clear that this kayak was indeed the one that had been out on the water but had recovered safely to shore and returned home.

With this information all rescue teams were stood down and allowed to return to their stations. This call out was classed as a False Alarm with Good Intent. The volunteer crew of Largs Lifeboat returned to station and recovered shortly before 8pm.

Commenting on this call out Lifeboat Operations Manager John Griffiths wanted to thank the crew for their response in difficult conditions. And praised all of the Emergency services involved searching both on shore and at sea in extremely wet and windy conditions.

RNLI/Brian Rankin

Search area covered by Largs Lifeboat

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

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